Party wall surveyors
in Bath.
Almost the whole of central Bath is a World Heritage Site, and much of it is listed. Georgian terraces on Lansdown, Bathwick and Widcombe were built as continuous runs with shared structural walls, so when the house next door is altered the effect on your property is direct and immediate.
Had a notice from a neighbour in Bath? You have 14 days to respond, and appointing your own surveyor normally costs you nothing, the building owner pays.
Covering Bath, Widcombe, Lansdown, Bathwick and the surrounding area, from Bristol.
What party wall work looks like in Bath.
Bath brings a complication most towns do not: Bath stone is soft, ashlar façades are unforgiving, and a great deal of the city sits on ground with a history of slippage on the southern slopes. A schedule of condition matters more here than almost anywhere, because fine cracking in ashlar is both easy to cause and easy to argue about afterwards. Listed building consent is separate from the Act. Your neighbour needs both, and having one does not excuse the other.
We cover Bath from Bristol, along with Widcombe, Lansdown, Bathwick, Oldfield Park, Weston, Combe Down and the wider Bath & North East Somerset area. Every matter is handled by a named surveyor who is a member of the FPWS or RICS, or both.
If a neighbour has served you notice
This is most of what we do. As adjoining owner you are entitled to appoint your own surveyor, and under section 11 the building owner normally pays the reasonable fees.
- A schedule of condition of your property, before work starts
- The structural design read with your building in mind
- A binding Award controlling scope, hours and access
- A duty on your neighbour to make good any damage
- A named surveyor you can telephone
Planning works in Bath?
Altering a listed or Georgian property in Bath? We handle the party wall side alongside your listed building consent, with a written estimate up front.
We identify which sections apply, check who the adjoining owners actually are at HM Land Registry, draft and serve the notices correctly, and manage the neighbour relationship so you do not have to. You get a written estimate before we start. Not a fixed fee guessed from a form before anyone has read your drawings.
Section 6 catches more schemes than people expect
Party wall questions in Bath
Do I have to pay for a party wall surveyor in Bath?
If you are the adjoining owner, the neighbour, then almost certainly not. Section 11 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 puts the cost of the works and the reasonable surveying fees of both owners on the building owner, because the works are for their benefit. If you are the one building, we give you a written estimate before we start rather than a fixed fee quoted from a web form.
How quickly can you get to a property in Bath?
Bath is covered from Bristol. We aim to respond to all enquiries within one working day, and where a 14-day deadline is close we will take the dissent first and arrange the inspection immediately afterwards. Inspections are typically within a week of appointment.
What sort of works trigger the Act around Bath?
Bath brings a complication most towns do not: Bath stone is soft, ashlar façades are unforgiving, and a great deal of the city sits on ground with a history of slippage on the southern slopes. A schedule of condition matters more here than almost anywhere, because fine cracking in ashlar is both easy to cause and easy to argue about afterwards. Listed building consent is separate from the Act. Your neighbour needs both, and having one does not excuse the other.
I've had a notice from my neighbour in Bath. What do I do?
You have 14 days to respond, and doing nothing is not neutral. After 14 days a dispute is deemed to have arisen and the building owner may appoint a surveyor on your behalf. Your options are to consent, to dissent and appoint your own surveyor, or to dissent and agree a single surveyor. Send us the notice and we will tell you whether it is even valid, free of charge.
Which areas near Bath do you cover?
Widcombe, Lansdown, Bathwick, Oldfield Park, Weston, Combe Down and the surrounding area, along with the rest of Bath & North East Somerset, from Bristol. We cover Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire from Bristol; Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Hampshire and Wiltshire from Poole; London inside the M25 from London.
Speak to a party wall surveyor covering Bath.
Ten minutes will tell you whether the Act applies, what your deadline is, and what it will cost you. Which, if you are the neighbour, is normally nothing at all.
- The building owner normally pays your surveyor's reasonable fees
- A named surveyor on your case from start to finish
- We will tell you honestly if you do not need us
No card details. No obligation. Nothing is final until you sign the appointment. A member of our office team reads every message, and a surveyor replies, usually within one working day.
More on party wall matters
- Adjoining owner rights
What to do when a notice arrives.
- The Act explained
Sections 1, 2 and 6 in plain English.
- Other areas we cover
The South West from Bristol and Poole, and London inside the M25.